Electric-lamp socket



Nov. 5, 1929. R. ECKSTEIN ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET Filed March 21. 1927 Reuben Ec/nstein INVENTOR BY nonms? r Patented Nov. 1929 UNITED STATES REUBEN EcirsrEm, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET Application filed March 21, 1927. Serial No. 176,901.

This invention relates to electric lamp sockets, and more particularly is directed to sockets for miniature bulbs such as used in Christ; mas tree outfits, and the like'decorative de- 5 vices.

An object of this invention, is to provide electric lamp sockets of improved construction which when connected in series, as in Christmas tree outfits permit of quick, easy and convenient detection of a burnt out bulb.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved lamp socket for forming series lighting systems, each socket having a fuse element to limit the current flowing for msafeguarding the bulbs remaining in circuit after one or more bulbs have been removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electric lamp socket of the character described having few and simple parts which 2 may be readily assembled and disassembled,

cheap to manufacture, and practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. I g

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

.In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the Various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

, Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a Christmas tree outfit embodying the invention showing one of the lamp sockets in section with the bulb removed therefrom and the contacts of the socket in short-circuited position.

Fig. 2 is a crosssectional view of the improved lamp socket showing the base of a bulb in position to space the contacts.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the socket shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified form of. the invention constructed to include a fuse element.

, Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 10 denotes a Christmas tree outfit embodying the invention. Said outfit comprises sockets 11 each adapted to have inserted therein a base 12 of a miniature bulb 12, said bases 12 having the usual screw-shell contacts 13 and center terminal contacts 14. Leads 15 connect the sockets in series with an electric power source (not shown) in the well understood manner as by means of a detachable plug 16.

Each of the sockets may comprise a body portion 17 formed by molded insulatin material having a centrally disposed cylin rical chamber 18 therein for receiving the current carrying parts. The latter includes a screw contact shell 19 rigidly fitted into the upper portion of the chamber 18, one of the lead wires 15 being electrically connected to this shell 19 by soldering, as at 20, so that said shell 19 forms one terminal for the power supply for connecting with the shell contact 13 of a bulb base 12 screwed into said shell 19.

Located in the lower portion of the chamber 18 is a metallic current carrying disc 21 which has mounted centrally thereon a contact terminal 22 for said socket, said terminal being connected with another of the leads 15 to the other side of the electrical power supply. A spring 23 is positioned between the bottom wall 24 of the chamber 18, and the current carrying disc 21 so as to urge the contact terminal 22 against center contact 14 of the bulb base when a bulb is screwed into the socket, the spring then being depressed andv the current carrying members of the socket spaced from each other in the usual manner. (See Fig. 2.)

When a bulb is removed from or loosened in the socket the disc 21 under actuation of the spring 23 contacts the shell 19 and forms a short-circuit between the latter and contact terminal 22.

The application of the invention to Christ-- mas tree lighting outfits or the like series connected lighting systems will now be apparent. When the outfit has been connected to an electric power supply for lighting the bulbs in the well understood manner and the filaments in one of the bulbs burns out, the circuit is opened causing all the bulbs to go out.

, By partially unscrewing or removing one bulb after the other, the current carrying parts in the respective sockets are successively short-circuited. When the burnt outbulb is unscrewed or removed, the remaining bulbs will light, thus facilitating the detection of any defective bulbs.

ig. 4 shows a modified form of the invention in which current carryingmember 121 replaces the disc 21 described above. Said member 121 includes a fuse element 125 mounted on a disc 26 of insulating material. In the event that a Christmas tree outfit is operating with one or more sockets short-circuited, that is with less than all the bulbs and the current taken by the current becomes excessive, a fuse in a short-circuited socket will melt and open the circuit in the well understood manner.

The various current carrying parts of the sockets may be made so as to be readily removable from the body portion of the socket for replacement and repairs.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various ossible embodiments might be made of the a ove invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to' secure by Letters Patent:

' 1. An electric lamp socket comprising an insulated body portion having a chamber, a contact shell fixed in an open end of the chamber adapted to receive the base of a bulb, a center terminal contact spaced from the contact shell, a current carrying member extending from the center contact, and a spring normally urging said member toward the shell to form a short-circuit between circuit connection between said socket parts on disconnecting the bulb.

1. An electric bulb socket comprising a contact shell, means movable with respect to said shell including a center contact and a current carrying portion extending therefrom, and a spring normally urging the movable means to form a short-circuit betweensaid contact and the shell through said currentcarrying portion, the latter being formed of a fusible material, as and for the purpose described and specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

'- REUBEN ECKSTEIN.

the latter and said contact, said member and contact being movable against the spring into spaced relation with the shell on insertion of a. bulb base into the socket, said current-carrying member being formed of a fusible mate-- rial, as and for the purpose described and NI, 3. An electric lamp socket having current carrying parts adapted to form a circuit with the current carrying parts of a bulb, said socket parts being short-circuited on disconnecting the bulb, said socket parts including a fusible element, the latter forming a short 

